Actually…No Plot At All… Ep 20: Smell of Blood (VI)

“I have heard lot about you, Mr.
Bakshi…” Mr. Malhotra said greeting the detective at his table.

“I may be late…apology for that…”
Bakshi said while taking the seat.

“A gentleman policeman…or you just
playing that game of good cop till I help you…like we have in the cinemas…” Mr.
Malhotra asked lighting a cigar.

Bakshi smiled. His smile said it all.
Devdutt Malhotra was correct in his assumption.

“So, no more beating the bush…can I
offer you a drink…or are you on duty…” he asked.

“I don’t drink—be it on official duty
or not…but if you want you can…for me you can asked for a lemonade or fruit
juice…” Bakshi said while looking around the club.

He saw many of the stalwarts and
rising stars at the club. They are chatting, laughing and guffawing between
them. This table where he sit now was at one of the corner forming a shade of
shadow over them due to the light over the table and smoke of the cigar of
Malhotra.

“So…let me start with saying my father
and Rathore Uncle that is Rathore Senior were good friends…that have started
long ago in the childhood back at the village school…grandfather of mine was
the head of the village while Rathore was the most wealthy farmer…and thus
shared a close relationship with him…beside this both the families were
neighbor…when next generation came…Rathore uncle flee from the village with the
daughter of my grandfather…what should be it called…grand…leave it…

“Rathore was a writer…a good one…so
after working many odd jobs he landed a job of writer for the screen under the
tutelage of the yesteryear star director Kailash Sen…before dying my
grandfather forgive his daughter…so we again came close…my father was good in
composing…so he became regular composer for Rathore uncle…I am not so good in
this composing or writing stuffs…so I invest…not in the stock…but in the
movies—where I know I can stretch my influence…

“Here’s the juice for you…and drink
for me…so where was I…yes…the family story…I might be boring you…but I want to
be clear with you from the start…”

“No, it is okay…but I am more keen to
know of Rukmini Devi and you…”, Bakshi said while sipping on his juice, “if I
had or have to know of your family, I would or will investigate it out…so to
the actress part…no more beating the bush, Mr. Malhotra.” (he heavy his voice a
little at the end.)

“Yes…Rukmini…” Mr. Malhotra lean onhis chair completing his drink in one sip, and then leaving the smoke of hiscigar, he said “I met her four years ago…in a party…she was a silent girl atthe party…and sometimes very much talking…not the talkative as you may havethought…the relationship though started after few days of the party…”